Pipe joint



April 23, 1929.

H. E. BULMAHN PIPE JOINT Filed Feb. 25, 1926' 2 Sheets-Sheet l lli K I April 23, 1929.

H. E. BULMAHQN PIPE JOINT rind Feb. 2s, '192e 2 sheets-sneer. 2

Patented Apr. 23, 1929.

UNITED STATES HENRY ERNEST BULMAHN, OF FORT WAYNE, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO THE TIESTILRIT 1,709,837; PATENT OFFICE.

GAS CONSTRUCTION-COMPANY,' OF FORT WAYNE, INDIANA, A CORPORATION 0F INDIANA.

PIPE .Tomar`V Application led February'23, 1926. VSerial No. 89,836.

This invention relates to pipe joints, and more particularly to joints for light pipes used for conveying gases, hot air, blast furnace products, vapors, low pressure steam and other vaporous materials at low pressure.

It is common to make pipes, for the purposes just stated, from thin steel plate, generally of g or ML", thick, the pipes ranging from 12 to 48 and 60 in diameter, and even larger, and the oints made by electric are welding.

The pipe sections are aligned end to end, and connected together in a variety of ways to make gas-tight joints. One of the means generally employed for making the joints embodies ring flanges on the adjacent ends of the pipesections, clamped together by a plurality of bolts, .with packing orA gaskets between the flanges, the face of the flanges extending at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the pipe. Sometimes the pipes are bent outwardly to form circumferential'pipe flanges. In all such arrangements it is manifest that the pipe sections must be flanged to a full ninety (90) degrees; that any gasket or packing between the flanges must be uniformly laid, and that the pipe flanges must be uniformly drawn together to make a gas-tight joint; and that this requires accuracy and the skill of expert workmen.

The object of the present invention is to provide a structure by which gas tight joints may be eecte'd with absolute certainty, by an ordinary workman, not necessarily an expert; a struct-ure which will have such flexibility that a perfectly tight joint will. be effected between adjacent pipe sections, even if these two sections are not in perfect longitudinal alignment; and a structure which will permit of quick and easyrepair in the event of a leak due to some accident.

To the attainment of these and other objects, theadvantages of which will be more apparent as I proceed with this specification,

` my invention consists of the devices and combinations of devices illustrated and described enlarged, of one side-of the pipe walls, to more. clearly bring out details.

Figure 3 is an enlarged, longitudinal sectional view through one wall of one of the pipe sections, to illustrate a modified form of securing a ring flange thereto.

Figure 4 is an enlarged, longitudinal View through the walls of two pipe sections, showing the joint gasket and a segmental clamp-v ing wedge.

Figures. 5 and 6 are plan and side views, respectively, of the segment-al clamping wedge.

Figures 7 and 8 are sectional views of the segmental gasket, taken, respectively, in the planes of the dotted lines 7-7 and 8 8 of Fig. 6.

In said drawings, the adjoining sections of pipe are indicated by the letters A and B,.

degrees, the most satisfactory results are obtained. I do not limit the invention, however, in this respect, except that the angle should notbe a right angle, and must be an angle of less than ninety degrees.

The ring flanges C and D are placed over the pipe sections A and B, as shown, the ring flange C being loosely mounted upon the pipe section A and resting upon the back of the pipe flange 1. The pipe section B projects through the ring flange Dv a short distance, as indicated at 2. The flange D is. j

firmly secured to the pipe section B by electric welding, as at 3 and 4, or by other suitable means. The top edge or end of the portion 2 of pipe section B is, preferably, tapered as ind1cated at 5, the angle'or taper corresponding to the angle of the pipe flange 1. v

The outside surface of the projecting part4 2 of'pipe section B and the face of the ring flange D -form a pocket vor 'circumferential seat for the gasket or packing E, which gasketmay be of any suitable material, size'and shape. Instead of the Welding arrangement shown -at 3 and 4,1 may taper the inside Wall or pipe opening of the ring D, as shown at 6 (Figure 3) and secure the ring 1 )..to pipe B by soldering or .welding as indicated Through each flange C and D are a plurality of bolt holes 8 adapted to receive the bolts 9. Nuts 10 enable me to draw the pipe sections A and B together to form a tight yand where a new gasket E or a mere tightening up of the bolts 9 and 10 would not close the leak; or where it is desirable to close the leak without dismantling the pipe line to remove a section or to replace the gasket by a fresh gasket.

This wedge F is inserted rinthe joint between the outside or top surface of the pipe flange l and thering flange C, some of thebolts 9, 10, having been 'first loosened. The

wedge F, it will be noticed, has a flat surface 11, to contact .with the face of the ringy flange C, and an angular or inclined surface 12, to contact with the pipefflange 1. Thewedge F is of varyingthickness throughout its len th as indicated in thesectional views, Figs. and 8, and is curved :or segmental in its `general outline, as clearly shown in Figures 5 and 6. t

Q Thus, when inserted inposition as indicated in Figure 4, to close a local leak, and the bolts again tightened, thepressure will cause the flange 1 to be distorted under the wedge F. The distorted or inwardly bent-in portion of the flange 1 will press upon the lgasket E, close' the leak and thereby restore Y a firm, tight joint.

In operation, the 'tightening of the various bolts and nuts, 9, 10, Will'cause an even pressure upon the gasket E, Aand" as this tightening is continued, the gasket E is wedged by the flange 1 and a perfect air or gas tight joint effected; I have shownfthe end ofthe pipe section B tapered at 5 so that it have a firm. bearing against the pipe flange l when the pipe sections arev drawn together so as to contact.

- It will be understood that this form of joint is flexible, ,in a. sense, that the joined pipe sections may be mis-ali ed and still be properly' joined against lea age. It

will also be understood that'by the use of theclamping wedge F, a leak due to accident -or other cause may be readily. curedYV locally withoutv dismantling the whole 6r even several sections of a pipeline. And, it i will be further understood that the device is simple, relatively cheap, and that it does-not require the services of an expert in its original assembly or for repair purposes.

It will be noticed that the members C and D are simple annular elements or rings which, when in use, function asu annular flanges, but which, per se, have no flanges or projecting parts. They are commercial shapes and hence contribute to the cheapness of the joint as a w ole.

It will also be noted that the end of th female pipe Awith its annular projecting circumferential flange v1 may be easily manufactured, is not corrugated or shaped in any special manner for the purpose of forming pockets, recesses or shoulders for the reception of gaskets or other packing material,

and that the other end of the pipe A, namely: the male end of the joint, is not bent or otherwise configurat'ed. The pipe as a whole has walls parallel with the central longitudinal axis of the pipe, excepting at one end where the annular flange is formed. This also contributes toward cheapness of initial' 'y Y construction and further `contributes to the cheapness of the joint in the elimination of vthe necessity of employing expert or special- Y for uniting the pipe sec- 1y skilled'workmen tions together. s

It will also be ,noted that a tight joint maybe formed by my device even when adjacent 'sections are notin strict longitudinal alignment. Y

I claim vas my invention;

J1; A pipe joint comprising two lmovable pipe sections, the end off one section being Y flared to form a circumferential ange ex tending angularly toward the other pipe section, Ya flat ring memberr looselyfencircling said pipeV section Vand having line contact with said' circumferential iangea second fiat ringmember fixed to the otherpipe section spaced from the end of said pipe, a -gasket located between the angular face of the circumferential flange' and the relativel ly fiat face of the fixed ring and surrounding the projecting end of the pipe section to which the fixed ring is attached, and means for drawing the two rings together to compress the gasket between said rings and inwardly toward the projecting end. of the pipe` surrounded by said gasket.

tions, the end of one section being flared to form a circumferential flange extending angularly toward'the other 't pipe Sectlon at less than a ninety degree angle to the longitudinal axis of the pipe back of the circumferential flange, a ring member loose- V2. A pipe joint .comprising two pipe secly mounted on the said Vsection back of the j circumferential flange, the opposing surfaces extendingA angularly with respect to each other, a second ring member fixed to the other pipe section, the end of the latter projecting through and beyond the said fixed rin member, a gasket located between the proximate faces of the angular circumferential flange and the said fixed ring and form a circumferential flange extending anf gularly toward the other pipe section, at

less than a ninety degree angle to the longitudinal axis of the plpe section, a ring flange loosely mounted on said section .back of the circumferential flange, a ring iiange Secured to the other pipe section, the end of lthe latter projecting through and beyond the fixed ring flange, a gasket on the fixed ring flange" surrounding the projecting pipe end, and

- locking means for the ring ianges adapted to draw the pipe sections together longitudinally to formk the joint, and a wedge member between the pipe flange andv the movable ring iange. y 'Y 4. A pi e joint comprising two sections, the end o? one section being bent to .form a circumferential flange extending toward the other section at an angle of less than ninety degrees to the lon itudinal axis of the pipe section, a ring mem er loosely mounted 5 upon said section back of the circumferential Hange, a second ring member fixed to the other pipe-section, the end of the latter projecting through and beyond said fixed,

ring member, a asket on the fixed ring member su'rroun ing the projecting -pipe end, locking means for the ring members adapted to draw! the pipe sections together longitudinally to form a joint, anda wedge member havin a top surface to contact with the under sur ace of the movable ring member and having an under surface tapered complement-ally to the top surface of the pipe flange upon which it bears.

5. A pipe joint comprising two pipe sections, the end of one section being bent to form a circumferential flange extending angularly toward the other pipe section, 'at less than a ninety degree angle to the longitudinal axis of the pipe section, a ring fianoe loosely mounted on said section back of the circumferential flange, a ring lflange secured to the other pipe section, the end ofthe latter projecting through and beyond the fixed ring flange, a gasket on the fixed ring fiange surroundin the projectin pipe end, locking means or the ring anges adapted to draw the pipe sections together longitudinally to form the joint, and'a segmental wedge member between the pipe iange and the movable ring flange, said segmental wedge member being of varying sectional dimensions.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my invention I aiiix my signature this 8th day of February, 1926.

HENRY ERNEST BULMAHN. l 

